CASES AGAINST FORMER STATE TV HEAD PROF. ATHUGALA AND TWO OTHERS FIXED FOR TRIAL

14/05/2016

Four cases filed against former Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) Chairman Ariyaratne Athugala, its former Additional Director General Devapriya Abeysinghe and G.D. Sugathapala for allegedly threatening and assaulting four SLRC employees in 2010, were yesterday fixed for trial by the Colombo Chief Magistrate.

When the four separate cases were taken up before Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya, the cases were fixed for trial on August 29.

Four complainants Kanchana Marasinghe, Herbert Kumara Alagiyawanna, Ravi Abeywickrema and Gamini Pushpakumara alleged that they were threatened and assaulted by the suspects when they demanded them to be adhere with the Elections Commissioners guidelines in line with the Supreme Court order with regard to telecasting of election related programmes during the 2010 Presidential Election.

The complainants alleged that the former SLRC Chairman abused them in obscene language claiming that the President and he would not care about Supreme Court orders and no one needs to teach him about media.

Meanwhile, the Chief Magistrate directed the complainants to file a contempt of court action against the accused if required for allegedly criticizing the judiciary. The Chief Magistrate also reprimanded the police for their failure to take necessary legal action against the accused during the last five-year-period.

The Cinnamon Gardens Police took measures to bring these cases before Court since they were not settled in the Mediation Board.
Daily News